Theory Therapy 68: Luke Mele

Cloud watching with LA-based DJ and nts FAVOURITE Luke Mele.

Hey Luke. How are you today?

Hello! I am doing well, thank you for asking.

What was the last song you listened to?

“Coddle The Rich” by Peace De Résistance, shoutout to my friend Ryan for putting me on to this newer record it’s on that is amazing. 

Where’s your favourite place to listen to music?

In my Scion xA, outdoors anywhere, or at home :)

Is there an artist or album you listen to a lot we might not expect based on your mixes? 

Phish ;)

Can you tell us a little about your Theory Therapy mix? What were you feeling when you made it? Where did you record it?

My grandfather passed away a year ago last weekend and I’ve been thinking about him a lot, we were close. I read on a youtube comment that the track “When The Bird Flies” by Aqua Bassino was written in memory of his father’s death, and so now I think a lot about my pap when I listen to that song. He continues to inspire me every day. So I sorta built this mix around that track. Otherwise there’s a little bit of everything – pedal steel, ECM, Bill Laswell, Spacemen 3, some new music by my homies Puli & Gi Gi, some 90s chill out stuff... I recorded it at home with a combination of records and digi files.

Where would you recommend listening to it?

On a road trip with a campfire waiting for you at the end.

Theory Therapy mixes are about sharing the music that you personally find therapeutic, cathartic or restorative. What does that mean for you? 

To me the most restorative of music takes you to a place mentally, whether it’s guitars to foggy mountains or balearic to a nice beach & everything in between. Lots of the former in this mix, americana & moody folk stuff…

Is there a particular album or piece of music that you find yourself returning to for similar reasons? 

My holy grail records are Mr. Wollogallu & Aragon, will probably need to buy new copies eventually because they’re getting beat up by over-play!

Tell us something exciting that's coming up in your life, music or otherwise.

Been focusing on hiking & camping & time outdoors lately. Trying my best to see parts of California and the US that I haven’t yet. I completed my first mini thru hike on the Trans Catalina Trail recently & can’t wait to do more. Nature rules! 

Tracklist:

  1. Terry Callier - Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be

  2. Robbie Basho - Blue Crystal Fire

  3. Daniel Hecht - Sweet Mantra

  4. Kevin McCormick - Cloud Watching

  5. Cowboy Sadness - Agave

  6. Unchained - Rambler

  7. Andrew Tuttle, Michael Chapman - Of Two High And Two Low Waters

  8. Kay Gardner - Crystal Bells

  9. Bill Laswell - Stations Of The Cross

  10. Steve Tibbetts - Walking

  11. Raymond Richards - Livermore, California 

  12. Bob Lind - Black Night

  13. Kevin - frog valley 

  14. Bill Frisell - Good Dog, Happy Man

  15. Fuubutsushi - Cicada Season

  16. wist - is it possible to fix this? 

  17. naemi - Ambrosia (ft. NAP)

  18. Screensaver - Eliminated 

  19. Signer - Ears Across Fences (Early Version) 

  20. Gi Gi - Far-Flung

  21. David Caron - A Quiet Passing

  22. Spacemen 3 - So Hot (Wash Away All Of My Tears) 

  23. Paul McCartney - Waterfalls 

  24. Klaus Schønning - Ocean Waves 

  25. Puli - Cloudy

  26. Ura - Shojin

  27. Florian T M Zeisig - TG10 (with PVAS)

  28. Magnetic - Magical Thinking

  29. Aqua Bassino - When The Bird Flies

  30. I.A.O. - Helium Ills

  31. Ralf Hildenbeutel - Inner Peace

  32. Buddhastick Transparent feat. Something In The Air - Eras (666)